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End-of-life care: we can do better

Sitting with her mother in Daw House as she battled severe heart failure convinced Labor MP and former nurse Nat Cook that a new palliative-care centre is needed.

Nov 09, 2015, updated Nov 09, 2015

The Palliative Care team at Daw House is nothing short of incredible.

Last month I sat with my family as my mum battled severe heart failure.

While the nursing care was excellent in the general wards of Flinders Medical Centre, the complexities of end-of-life care have unique challenges which need a very special team.

As I sat with Mum, I had plenty of time to sit and ponder the future of our health-care system and it was clear we can do better. Under the Transforming Health plan, I am confident we will.

I’ve been nursing for almost 30 years but I have learned more about our health system during my personal experiences, including Mum’s time at Daw House. I understand the connection that families make with it and the staff.

As Mum’s battle continued, I looked around at the environment. Yes, it was like a home and gave a sense of comfort, but it was clear the decision to build a new palliative-care centre was the right one.

Patient and family privacy is often compromised. There are only seven private rooms – all of which have shared bathrooms. Very frail patients need to turn the bathroom lock so that they aren’t walked in on by accident.

The new palliative-care unit will have the same amount of beds as Daw House but all will be in private rooms. Each will have its own bathroom.

Because of its age, Daw House is almost impossible to maintain. The air-conditioning is so loud that it is impossible to hear your loved one breathe.

The new centre will be quieter, located in a new building separate to the acute wards – not in the main section of Flinders Medical Centre and certainly not on the fifth floor of a busy general hospital, as was stated last week by a doctor campaigning against these changes.

The rehabilitation and psycho-geriatric units will also be nearby. Both need peace and calm in order to achieve the best outcomes.

The new centre will have a tranquil rooftop garden. The building is adjacent to a creek lined with lots of beautiful gum trees and native vegetation.

Having worked in that hospital for 12 years, I have spent many hours sitting with patients down by that creek, watching koalas and birds. This area admittedly needs some work to facilitate access for these patients but will be a real asset for the users of this new building – a true place to sit and reflect.  I hope to see this space transformed.

Palliative care is changing and must be started earlier in the end-of-life journey to alleviate symptoms and provide options to patients. The new unit will allow that. It will also give caregivers, patients and their families a comfortable, peaceful and private facility.

Nat Cook the Labor Member for Fisher.

 

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